As the year comes to a close, this is a good time to think about all you did in 2017 -- writing-wise and otherwise.
Many of us are so focused on our to-do lists that it can be a new habit to stop and appreciate all we do in a day, and a year.
I know I am super focused on my writing goals. I have my eye on getting my second book of my Janey McCallister Space Station Mystery series edited by the end of January. Then there's the third, and the fourth... and then maybe a little break before publishing. Not sure yet.
So, I really need to stop and do something to appreciate all I've done this year.
Luckily, we have a habit in our family that I love. Ezra instigated it, an activity suggested to him by his mother, when he was going through a difficult time years ago.
This time of year Ezra and I make a list of all our accomplishments, no matter the size, for the past year. I love this activity because it helps me acknowledge everything and I get a witness too.
If you want to do this for yourself, here's what I recommend:
1. Near the year's end or at the start of the new year, sit with a friend over a cup of tea or coffee (or virtually over the phone or Skype) and block off at least an hour for you both to do this exercise together.
Ezra and I like to go to a diner for this. (We like diners for almost any reason.)
2. Dictate your accomplishments for 2017 while your friend writes them down. Your friend may even remember some things that you forgot.
Start from the most recent and work backwards, or start in January and work forwards. It doesn't matter the order of listing. What matters is that you announce to yourself and your friend what your accomplishments are for the year. They don't even have to be writing related. But do include your writing.
For example, I ran a 5K last June. Yay! Ezra created awesome hands-on lessons for his physics students this fall. Cool!
I also wrote tens of articles for my blogs and crafted 40-50 tweets. I will also include my writing and editing on this list.
3. When you're done, have your friend read your list aloud and just listen, taking it in. How does that feel? Can you really appreciate all your did? (Without going to: "But I didn't do X, Y, Z...")
4. Switch! Your friend's turn! This time you're the scribe while your friend lists their accomplishments, and you get to be the cheer leader.
Share your accomplishments with your loved ones. Share with me too, if you like. I will totally celebrate with you!
♥
End of year giveaway for fiction writers!
I've created a giveaway of character development tools for fiction writers and brought together with other writing teachers and coaches to help me make it really something grand.
We want to help you get a better handle on your characters, so that your readers will fall in love with them.
We're giving away 18 prizes -- so 18 winners -- including a $75 Amazon gift card.
The rest of the prizes are: - 1 30-minute Skype consultation with Rachael Herron (normally $100)
- 1 30-minute phone consultation with writing expert Alicia Rasley (normally $50)
- 1 seat in Lynn Johnston’s course, Creating Archetypal Characters (normally $37)
- 1 seat in Beth Barany’s course, Creating Compelling Characters (normally $97)
- 1 ebook by Britt Malka, ABC Character Method (normally $14.97)
- 1 paperback copy of The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne and a FREE scene analysis for character by a certified Story Grid editor, J. Thorn (normally $285)
- 1 paperback copy of The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction by C.S. Lakin (normally $14.95)
- 10 ebook bundles containing: Quick and Dirty Character Tips by Heidi Angell, Seven Secrets to Creating Great Characters by Margaret Lucke, and Don’t Write Like We Talk by Catharine Bramkamp (normally $13.97)
Go here to see the great prizes (valued at over $650) and to enter:
Good luck! | 
